Anstey
Leicester
Tuesday. March 15. [1910]
My own darling Nance.
How extremely glad I am to receive your letter this morning. Your letter had a true lover's welcome. After days of hard grinding at my books I was beginning to feel just a bit weary. Your letter gives me a fresh impetus in my work.
I esteem your reference to our wedding, that is to the time immediately following it, when we hope to be alone for the first time in our new life. I acquiesce to your spirit. Thanks for leading me to such a point of view. I cannot imagine a better & a happier way to commence our wedded life than by seeking the Divine help & guidance. I have dreamed about such a thing in the past; & as you remind me again this morning, it is more than a dream, it has become a vision. All being well it will soon be actualized in our life. I am so glad that I am in such sympathy with you, my darling; & after reading your beautiful letter this morning (I have read it more than once, & actually pressed it to my lips after reading it) I am more than ever convinced that you will help me considerably in my life. No one knows how much help I need sometimes. But I do my best & will continue to do my best for your sake. Without desiring in the least to be egoistic, I know I can be of help to you.
I don't think we can do better than put your suggestion into practice, by using the intervening time, between now & July, in preparing ourselves solemnly before our common Master for our new life. May we both ever keep before us the highest aspect of married life! The majority, alas! a great majority, hold very low ideas of this life. But God forbid that it should ever become ours, my love.
I am pleased to learn of your confidence in me. This stimulates me in endeavours to acquit myself worthily to become your husband. My darling, & I have implicit trust in you!
Delighted to hear that your concerts have been so successful. How grand to have read to you some poems written by a relation of yours. I hope some day to be able to hear them or read them for myself. I am highly pleased to know this. Those poems will be worth treasuring.
I am sorry to hear that Cissie's little daughter does not give promise of long life. Sincerely hope Cissie is well. By the way dearest, are you asking Cissie & Mr Bennett for next July? Immediately I know the result of my exam. I shall enquire about rooms in Brittany etc. I am eagerly waiting for the time when I can begin to fix up all such arrangments. I look forward to this preparation with great joy.
I am trying to grow a tulip in my study, but I am afraid it will be all leaves. It has grown such a height for a tulip. There is no sign of the flower yet. I do hope it will flower.
Now excuse more, dearest one, I am dreadfully busy. Shall be thankful when Easter week has passed.
I will ever remain
Your fond lover
Dick. xxxx
Anstey
Leicester
England.
7:V:10.
My own true Love
Many thanks for your informing letter. Very pleased to hear that you had a pleasant & profitable holiday in Jersey, especially as you were so unwell when leaving Guernsey. I am glad you are better. I excuse you now, hearing you have been unwell, for not writing me before this. It is nearly a fortnight ago since I heard from you. Your delayed letters bother me a great deal. I never doubt your love, darling. I never shall while life endures. Letter writing will soon be ended! Hurrah!!
Thanks very much for your information respecting the Boarding House in Jersey. It seems exceedingly cheap. If one can do it as cheaply in July, it will be very reasonable. Thanks also for particulars re. St. Servan. I have been looking through a few booklets I have to hand & find the same place advertised. St Servan is about 2 miles from St Malo & very easy of access. I want to take you to Brittany if at all possible. The money of course is a very serious item with me I must confess. I am afraid I shall not have as much to spare as I at first thought. I had to pay £6 away last week for Preacher's Friendly Society.
I am very thankful for your suggestion respecting our stay in Jersey for the honeymoon, or curtailing our stay in Brittany. My pleasure will be found in being with you & finding that you are happy. If you can be as happy in Jersey as in St Malo then well & good. One thing I purpose not doing & that is to trouble you much with travelling. That would not be good for you. In any case, my love, would it not be better to curtail our honeymoon & be on our Circuit for the 17th. which will be a Sunday earlier than we are expected, & to take that Sunday sometime in September for another holiday? I favour this idea, & if agreeable to you, will arrange with my Circuit to do this if possible. What do you think to it, my love? If we arrange to be on the Circuit by the 16th. we can have ten days on our honeymoon; & what is very important my pocket will not be able to stand much more.
Where our first Circuit will be is not known yet. It remains a mystery. Two weeks ago I had a faint hope of going to Penzance, but that has gone. I have it on good authority now that if the Cradley Heath Circuit does not succeed in its application for relief at Conference, I shall be invited there as second married preacher. The possibilities of Cradley Heath obtaining relief are very very small, so that may come off. Yet it is only a possibility. Of course there is a possibility of my remaining here in Leicester, if this Circuit does not succeed in its application for relief. There is really no possibility of going to Horwich. I would really like to be on the South coast, & I feel sure it would suit you best. I shall be very glad indeed when I know where I am going. It will be much better to be fixed.
I am pleased to hear of your purchases in Jersey, & you have done well to save 5/: on your purchase. If you can do that I shall be extremely glad to entrust to you all my purchases. My dearest, will you tell me what coloured tie & gloves I should wear at the wedding? I cannot decide & I want your help. I dont think it would suit to have too bright a colour. However what do you think? that's what I want to know, dearest.
The prospect of the wedding becomes brighter & brighter. I now count the weeks & the odd days very carefully. I was never more anxious & more hopeful respecting our wedding than now. The waiting has been very long, without a doubt; but it is worth waiting for. It would have be impossible to have waited so long, being separated as we have been, had I not had a strong love for you. It is love alone which has kept me faithful. Now, just a little longer to wait, then all my dreams & hopes & my love will have its full consummation! How grand to think of it. There are none more cheerful than I at present. I have no doubt about my future happiness if I have you as my wife. I know you well enough, & have known you long enough, darling, to feel quite certain that our married life will be of the happiest nature. I have ideals which I cannot vouchsafe to you at present & you will only know them as they become actual in real life.
However, my darling Nance, until the 6th of July, I want you to take every care of yourself. It will be a trying time for you, so keep strong. I shall be glad to feel my strong arm supporting you at that trying time. Dearest, I feel even now that my life is really not my own, but it is yours. It will always be yours, & I shall always be glad to be your love in bonds. Keep strong, dearest, for I will soon be coming now.
Your very fond & affectionate
lover
Dick. xxx
"Hawarden Villa"
Anstey
Leicester
May 16th. /10
My very own
I am quite pleased to have your letter this morning. I have just written a letter to your father in answer to his enquiry respecting Scott's & G. Eliot's novels, & I have also written to Wilson. So this is my third letter already this morning. Still I am glad to write to you all; & not least, my dearest, to you.
Your father's present will be a very suitable wedding gift; & I feel sure it will bring you many hours of unalloyed delight. So you have received your first wedding present. How very kind of her. From your discription of it I think it will be very pretty. The design pleases me. I wish I could thank Miss Opie for her present to you.
I will ask Mr Hughes to act as my best man. There is no one I would like better to be my best man. I will write him to that effect on finishing my letter to you. Indeed, I am expecting Mr Hughes spending a few days with me this week. Mrs Hughes & baby have gone home to her people in Sheffield for a short stay. I dont think (or better 'I do not think') Mrs Hughes will be coming to Guernsey, chiefly because of the baby; & Mr Hughes will be staying in Guersey until after Sunday July 10th. More than this I cannot say at present.
My last letter would answer your reference to Mrs Halliwell's & to the place in St Servan's. In my next letter I hope to be able to give you further particulars concerning St Malo. I am extremely glad, my darling, to have information respecting your money. That eases me considerably. You are a darling!! Now we can go to Brittany without any further bother. The chief thing now is to fix up with a comfortable, & at the same time, a resonable place in Brittany. To make our 'headquarters' in St Malo will be best for there are many lovely places surrounding it. The last place I wrote to is a house situated in a garden near the sea, in St Malo. I will write to another today, which is described as 'an English home, midway between St Malo, St Servan, & Paramè with a sea view'. I will fix up with one of these houses in due course. Should we stay one or two nights in Jersey, dearest?
I am making a special study of Brittany now, with the travelling facilities. I find much delight in it. One thing has given me much amusement & that is I will not be able to speak French. You will have to do all the talking to strangers & if needs be you will be my interpreter. I wish I knew French. How funny if I happen to get lost & could not enquire my way. If possible I will arrange with my new Circuit to enter a week before the due time; that is for July 17th. which would give us a full week in Brittany.
I am very sorry that Amy & Alice cannot attend; but I am glad that you can at least depend on Winifred. I shall make her a nice present! You may tell her so.
I am delighted Mamie will probably be present. I hope Mr Cook will be able to be there, & also the Misses Barnett. It will be so pleasant to see someone from the remote but 'canny' North.
Many thanks for your opinion respecting gloves & tie! I will carry out your opinion as nearly as I can. It is so nice to have your opinion, & I cherish it immensely.
I am exceedingly sorry that you have been feeling so unwell, dearest. I wonder if you have been neglecting your medicine? I do earnestly hope you will soon be quite well again. Let me hear from you very soon, darling. Your letters are so precious to me.
Now I must 'dry up' for the present,
else I will be wearying you too much. Whether my scrappy letters
weary you or not, I will ever remain
Your most sincere & devoted fiance.
Dick.
"Hawarden Villa"
Anstey
Leicester
May 30th /10.
My very Own
I am very sorry to hear from Kate this morning that you have been ordered to bed. The doctor evidently thinks the 'rest cure' will do you most good. I was hoping to hear that you had recovered sufficiently for you to be able to do some of your ordinary work. But that is not to be just yet. I am of a firm opinion, dearest, this rest which you are compelled to take at present will be for your permanent good. Maybe you will be all the stronger for this enforced rest.
Now I hope you have not been unduly worrying yourself about the wedding, &, dearie, dont fret in the least about the future. We shall be perfectly happy together & I shall exercise the greatest care over you & for you. Dont you trouble about anything at present except your own health. Make haste & get strong!! Let that be your only thought. I know you are bright & cheerful under all your suffering. For you usually are. I hope this is so at present. I shall be extremely pleased to hear that you are progressing favourably. I want you to be 'fit' for July 6th at the latest. So "keep smiling!"
I had my first game of Tennis on Friday. It was a lovely day & I had a jolly time. I have had my racquet restrung & it is now as good as new again. As a result of the game on Friday, I have been aches & pains for the weekend. But I am perfectly fit now, & intend having another game tonight.
I went to Lester [Leicester] this morning immediately after breakfast to do some shopping. I love to spend money; but I had to spend it most carefully this morning. I bought myself some linen, etc. There are yet other things I require. I shall purchase those later.
I was delighted with a photograph of Winifred & Clifford from Kate this morning. Don't you think it is an excellent photo? I have put it into a frame already for a future date. I send you one of the latest of myself. Hope you will like it. I have really had it taken for my Lester friends.
I am pleased to hear that Wilson's two sisters, Mrs Cross & Mrs Swinden have promised to attend the wedding. I have not been to the Registrar's yet, & will wait a little longer before putting in the Banns.
My darling, my love for you remains as true as ever. With each coming day I feel you to be more & more precious to me. My love is no mere sentiment -- teped [tepid] & placid. It is active, throbbing within me, waiting to do & to endure for you. One can think of water in two ways, either as moving along a level & giving itself off aimlessly, or as in some strong vessel as an hydraulic press, so that every little pressure put upon it is multiplied exceedingly & brought to bear & act in the proper place. Such a love have I for you, my darling. I want to do something for you & to bear for you. This is the great attraction for me in our prospective wedded life. Not until then shall I ever be able to tell you how great my love for you really is. I shall never be able to tell it out in words, but only in acting & enduring for you. I wish I could have a few brief hours with you now; perhaps I could then make you feel something of my undying love.
I remain
Your loving fiancè
Dick.
N.B. I shall be very pleased to have ever such a few words from you when its possible. Dick
"Hawarden Villa"
Anstey
Leicester.
June 2nd /10.
My darling Nance
I am ever so pleased to hear that you are now somewhat better. This is very good news; & it makes me quite cheerful. You must carry out doctor's orders, my dearest; & you will soon be quite well again.
I am pleased to know that you are having so many friends to see you, & that you are well supplied with flowers. No doubt you will give me all the information when you are better & stronger if not by letter, by some other means which is more preferable. How exceedingly greatful I am to Kate for keeping me posted up with news. I shall be indebted to her for ever. It is the very essence of kindness. For a very long time I have looked upon Kate as a sister; but I shall be very glad to know that she is really so. Indeed, I do not think that she can be more of a sister to me than she really is now. Darling, you have a worthy sister; & I do sincerely hope & most earnestly pray, that Kate will be able to keep strong during this period.
There has been very little taking place since my last letter; in fact there has been nothing worth repeating; unless it is a few words of praise which I received yesterday concerning a sermon I preached on Tuesday night. Would you like to know what was said. Well, here are the words: "I liked the sermon last evening better than any I have heard you preach. The style was simple -- the language good, & delivery much better." What do you think of that, dearest? My subject was "Goodness." One thing I will cherish as much as anything else when we are married & that will be your kindly criticisms on my sermons, & on the many other things I shall be called upon to do. I feel the great need of this at present. But there is not much longer to wait now! If we could have been together more, than it has ever been possible for us to be the last three years, I feel sure I would have been the better for it. You have helped me considerably as it is. I will be able to do my very best when you are always with me. I cannot do otherwise when you are near.
I have had my Leader's meetings this week. They have been encouraging. We are able to report further increases. There have been three more names enrolled at Anstey & three more at Rothley. For my two years here in these two societies 22 have been enrolled as new members & 6 have been removed through removals & death. So there is a net increase of 16. I am glad to be able to say this.
The Quarterly Meeting is held on Saturday. I am wondering how things will turn respecting this Circuit. I will give you more about it in my next letter. There is a movement to amalgamate the L'ester III with this Circuit & call out a married preacher. How things will turn I cannot say.
I have lately had a recipe given me, which is an excellent pick-me-up. I let you have the benefit of it & so forward it. It is as follows:
1 - Quart of Tarragona Wine
5 penny Bottle Extract of Malt
7½d Pot Leibig's Extract of Beef
1 - Pint Boiling Water.
Pour water on Beef & Malt, then add wine. Dose: wine class [glass] full. It has been strongly recommended.
We are now in the last calendar month, dearie! Our Wedding Day will very soon be here now. I am hoping you will be quite fit for that day. It will be a trying ordeal for you I know, but if you face it quietly you will manage it successfully. It would be as well, remembering your condition, to let everything then be as quiet as possible. I am more than ever convinced that it would be unwise to attempt a stay in Brittany, for our honeymoon. It will be better to have a few days in Jersey, & then come to England & to our new home in easy journeys. When I come on to Guernsey I will call at Weymouth a few hours sooner to 'fix up' rooms. Weymouth seems an excellent place for a holiday. It is so interesting, & so beautiful. I have already made enquiries, & am not really a bit sorry that we can spend some time there.
Now I hope my letter finds you much
improved, & I understand you will be up for about an hour,
today in your room. I sincerely trust that each day will find
you improved. I will soon be coming for you now!! Sweetest love
to you, darling
Yours for ever
Dick.
Hawarden Villa
Anstey
Leicester
17:VI:10.
My darling Nance
Many thanks for your letter on Wednesday. I wondered if I should receive one in your handwriting or in Kate's. I was pleased to find that you were well enough to do so much. I am very glad to hear that you are improving. I expect that you are finding that your recovery is very slow! If your improvement is sure we must be thankful; for I trust your progress is permanent now. I want you to be well ever so soon. I am thankful you have such a good nurse. That is a great blessing. I am sorry you cannot take any solid food. I hope you will be able to do so soon. I am highly delighted to know that you have so many kind friends about you, to bring you flowers & to spend some little time with you.
I am very much interested to hear of your presents, the presents from Stella [Parkinson] & Miss Wright. I note your wish respecting the presents I receive. I will do as you desire if possible to be carried out. Maybe I will ask, where it is possible to arrange, for some presents to be sent directly to Guernsey. For instance a lady writes me this morning asking where to send her present. I will request her to send it to Guernsey. This I will do concerning others. It will save me time & trouble & it will mean no more bother for the person sending. I will write to father & mother suggesting this.
I dont know how I shall be able to pack my belongings into my bags & also the few presents I possess. Still I will do my best to have them all forwarded or brought to Guernsey. I think it will be very nice to have all the presents together so the guests would be able to view them.
I agree with you that the Reception will be much better being held at the house. I entirely agree with you. I am pleased to know that you have been to the Registrars to give notice. I am so wonderfully out of all this! But I have been wondering, seeing that I am not to intimate to this District Registrar my intention of marrying in any way, whether the Guernsey Law does not compel me to be on the Island so long a time! Do you know or does Wilson know anything about this? because darling, I dont want anything to obstruct or interfere with our Wedding, & it is well to be certain of these things.
My last letter would contain a ring-card, & I shall be glad to have the size of the ring. Your suggestion concerning bouquets for the bridesmaids is a happy one. I think it admirable, & shall be delighted if you would order them for me. That is another thing done! & I am really indebted to you. The idea pleases me ever so much.
The price of the Cake is astonishing to me. Of course I had no idea what they really cost, but it ought to be a very good cake for that sum of money.
I am anxiously waiting to hear what you have to say about living at Malmesbury, dearest? I have not received official intimation yet. I expect that tomorrow morning. But I would like to know what you think about the appointment. I suppose the surrounding country as well as the town is very pretty; & the air is salubrious. It is a large circuit but the Chapels are good, & there are very few debts; & where there are debts they do not trouble the societies much.
I suppose the minister's house is "big, but old & inconvenient" so writes the residing minister. The letter I have received from Rev Warcup reminds me very much of the letter Wilson received when he wrote for particulars about Guernsey. Brother Warcup seems to be of a pessimistic disposition!! There is one place 13 miles away & another 11½ miles from Malmesbury. So there will be some travelling to do. If Conference abides by the decision of the Stationing Committee then I must make the best of it when I get there. One very important thing is that it is really South & in a part where you are likely to receive good. If Conference does alter it then I will wire you. I shall be glad to have it definitely settled.
I purpose writing to Mrs Halliwell's, Jersey, fixing up for Wednesday to Saturday. How will that suit? Or would you rather stay in Jersey until Monday, then go to Weymouth? I shall be pleased to do what pleases you. I have decided to be on my new circuit for the 17th of July & to take the Sunday sometime in September. This will allow us a holiday in the Autumn which I think will be very nice.
Now I must bring this to an end, & tell you other things another time. But I do most sincerely trust that this letter finds you better & stronger. Many of my friends ask kindly about you.
You have my consistent & burning
love.
Yours as ever
lovingly
Dick.
P.S. Love & regards to all. Hope
Kate is keeping well.
Dick.
Anstey,
Leicester
June 28th /10
My dear Nance
Yours just to hand with thanks. Glad to learn that you continue to improve. I have been wondering since your last letter how you were seeing that that the time was so very near. I was hoping strongly, of course, that you were well & keeping better.
Your letter is very businesslike & full of the one absorbing theme. It cannot be otherwise at present! So I set myself to reply to yours. Thanks for your opinion respecting our stay in Jersey & Weymouth. I will do my best. Thanks also for information regarding rooms for Mr Hughes & myself. I shall be very grateful if you would arrange rooms for us. For Monday & Tuesday night Mr Hughes & I could sleep together. You might arrange for Mr Hughes to stay until Monday. I feel I cannot arrange for him to stay less than that, & my purse wont bear the strain for any longer period. Of course, needless to say, that you are at perfect liberty to arrange rooms at the lowest possible figure. Thanks in anticipation, my darling, for this arrangement!!
I shall see to the cards immediately. About 150 will be sufficient, I presume? Sorry the Barnetts & Bennetts cannot be present.
Thanks for the Cards. I think them very nice. And your arrangement to receive the guests in two groups is admirable. I dinna ken [don't know] who gives you away yet! Will your father be able to do that? I sincerely hope he will be able to do so.
Pleased to hear of Winnie's prospective present to you. Truly the house will require a great many pictures, for I judge the rooms are large, it being an old fashioned house. It will be grand to see the house decorated & made sweet by our presents. I am very pleased that there are so many bedrooms for the accommodation of our friends when they visit us.
It is nice to hear that the Delancy church are presenting you with something. I am exceedingly delighted to hear that. Let us hope that it will be something not merely pretty but also useful. Kate & Wilson's present is splendid indeed, I have been wondering if you had a photograph of your father. This is splendid, especially as it is an enlargement of the one taken when you were living at the College.
I have had two more presents. One is a beautiful picture of Charles Dickens which was bought at Subscription Price. I am sure you will like it. It is very costly. It needs framing, & is worthy of a good frame. The other present is from a young couple. It is a beautiful cruet & will certainly be most useful. I dont expect the Church giving me anything especially as I have received so many private presents. They all regret that the wedding is so far away.
I was in town yesterday & did a deal of shopping. The most important purchase was the Ring. It is medium width as you desired. I also made part arrangements for travelling. I am booking Tourist from Bristol to Jersey.
Mr Hughes is neither tall or stout, but is small if anything, with a kind & generous disposition. I think you will like the man even if you object to him being small!! The singular thing is that Mrs Hughes is tall.
I have received a letter from Mr Warcup this morning in which he intimates that Mrs Warcup is at present in the London Hospital. It seems very probable that they wont leave Malmesbury much before we have arranged to be on the Circuit. He has asked me to delay my luggage a week before forwarding. So I am arranging for my friends here to forward mine a week later. If I were Wilson I would sent your boxes off; for they can surely be placed in one of the rooms, seeing there are so many. You will most certainly require all your rooms at "Sunrise". Expect you have a great many boxes!
Today I expect you are visiting the dressmaker. I hope she does not drive the making of your dress up to the last moment.
And so I have written & am finishing a letter similar to yours full of one thing. Well it cannot be otherwise at present. Shall I hear from you again? Do let me have another letter, darling! Remember that we have no Delivery here on a Sunday; so you must post your letter at the latest on Thursday night for me to have it on Saturday.
Keep well & strong! Yours for
ever. With fondest love.
Dick
"Hawarden Villa"
Anstey
Leicester.
July 1st. /10.
My very own.
At last I append to my letter the eventful month of July. I have long & anxiously waited for it to come; it is now here. Hurrah!! This will be my last letter from me to you; one which precedes my own coming to the Island & makes a sort of prelude to a new relationship with you & yours. It has certainly be a long waiting, & how thankful I really am now I shall never be able to tell. Enough now to say that I am very happy to see the dawning of our Wedding Day. In much less than a week now we shall both have broken away from our single life. My happiest moment next week will be when we are safely through the ceremony & have taken to the water for Jersey. At present I am simply pining to be near you. I shall be very happy to find you in my embrace once again, & feel my lips pressed to yours. I wish I could have that pleasure now!! I would give much for that experience now! But it will come in a few days now; will it not darling?
I expect you are busier than ever now? I hope that you are keeping strict watch over yourself. I am hoping that you still keep improving. The Wedding Day itself will be a great strain upon you & you must be as strong as you possibe can. I have never been better, nor have I ever looked better.
I had another present yesterday, sent by Mr & Miss Robinson of Newcastle. They are old friends of mine. It is a Dark Oak Hall set of Brushes. They are very pretty. The Rev & Mrs D. Cooke have promised to send us on later a painting which will be done by Mrs Cooke herself. Have had a letter from father this morning telling me that several presents are being sent on to Guernsey; a present from mother of a eider-down; Ethel -- silver tongs & sugar sifter; Hannah -- a fancy cushion cover. These are all very useful, are they not, dear? My darling, it is really a good thing to get married if only to receive such beautiful presents & to find out our friends, Eh?
We had a nice party here on Wednesday night given by Mr & Mrs Willett. Twelve of us sat down for supper. We had a pleasant evening.
There is nothing more I can tell you at present. I shall soon be with you now. Only 4 more days then I will be with you! I shall arrive on Monday night.
Hope you are better, & trust Kate & all the rest are well.
Sweetest & strongest love
Yours faithfully
Dick
[small card]
Anstey,
Leicester.
2:VII:10.
My dearest
Thanks for yours this morning. I am very pleased to have it. Mine will be as brief. I am in a desperate rush.
I have had a few more presents. One in particular is very pretty -- a silver cake-stand. I am bringing all the presents with me in my trunk. I cannot carry them otherwise.
Only two more days here. How preciously near now! Oh! I am longing to see you, my darling! My heart is full of love. Just a little longer now, & then ---- !!
My heart's burning love all for you.
Yours for ever
Dick.
Sunrise
Rouge Rue
July 6th. /10
My darling Nance
This is our Great Day; the day when we shall both bring to an end our single life. I am so glad to see it! I have long waited for it; & I am now exceptionally pleased to realize it here. My love is deeper & stronger than ever before!
Now, darling, may we have a pleasant ceremony. I trust you will 'bear up' through it all. You will soon be mine; & when we are alone I shall have much to say.
May God bless our Marriage!
Yours as ever before
Sincerely loving
Dick.